It didn't take long for pandemonium to break out once the Super Bowl XLVII victory parade commenced in Baltimore just before noon local time Tuesday.

Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed stole the show early on, serenading the crowd with Eddie Money's "Two Tickets to Paradise" before eschewing his float to walk the parade route. With a microphone pilfered from a local television reporter and a camera strapped to his head, Reed carried the Lombardi Trophy through the streets of Baltimore, allowing fans to reach out and touch the grand prize.

On the heels of Reed's street performance, the scene turned to one of bedlam as fans ignored barriers and flocked to the military vehicle in which retiring linebacker Ray Lewis was riding. Six mounted police officers kept the throng at bay.

Baltimore Ravens victory parade

The
Ravens returned to a hero's welcome following their
Super Bowl XLVII victory. Take a look at some of the best photos from their victory parade.

"There is no place on this earth that's better than Baltimore," Lewis told the crowd once the team arrived inside M&T Bank Stadium, according to The Associated Press.

With an estimated crowd of 80,000 in attendance for the celebration ceremony, the stadium reached maximum capacity in short order, forcing police to close the gates.

The Ravens' faithful have put on a grand show, demonstrating the strong bond between the city and its football team. "The scene at this Ravens parade is Mike Tyson in 1988," NFL.com's Albert Breer tweeted. "And every other parade I've watched on TV is Michael Spinks."